In-situ deep remediation injection system and method

Abstract

An improved deep remediation injection system for in-situ remediation of contaminated soil and ground water. The system includes a soil penetrating lance for injecting at least two different highly-pressurized fluids taken from the group of air, gaseous oxygen, ozone, oxygenated liquid, hydrogen peroxide, surfactant-containing liquid, catalyst-containing liquid and suspended biologicals-containing liquids, or a liquid containing other chemicals, into said contaminated soil as said soil penetrating lance is inserted for penetration therein. The soil penetrating lance has at least an upper set of injection ports, the upper set of injection ports being generally radially spaced-apart on said lance, and at least one lower set of injection ports, the lance having an average width in the vicinity of the upper set of injection ports. The lance further includes substantially fluidically-independent first and second conduits leading, respectively, to the lower set of injection ports and the upper set of injection ports so as to permit delivery of separate pressurized fluid streams to the upper and lower sets of injection ports and then into the soil. The upper and lower sets of injection ports are spaced apart from each other on said lance a distance no farther than about three times the average width of said lance in the vicinity of the upper set of injection ports.

I claim:  
     
       1. A deep remediation injection system for in-situ remediation of contaminated soil and ground water capable of progressive penetration both vertically and horizontally in contaminated soil comprising 
       a soil penetrating lance for injecting at least two different highly-pressurized fluids taken from the group of air, gaseous oxygen, ozone, oxygenated liquid, hydrogen peroxide, surfactant-containing liquid, or catalyst-containing liquid and suspended biologicals-containing liquids, into said contaminated soil as said soil penetrating lance is inserted for penetration therein, said soil penetrating lance having at least an upper set of injection ports, said upper set of injection ports being generally radially spaced-apart on said lance, and at least one lower set of injection ports, said lance having an average width in the vicinity of said upper set of injection ports, said lance including substantially fluidically-independent first and second conduits leading, respectively, to said lower set of injection ports and said upper set of injection ports so as to permit delivery of separate pressurized fluid streams to said upper and lower sets of injection ports and then into said soil, said upper and lower sets of injection ports being spaced apart from each other on said lance a distance no farther than about three times the average width of said lance in the vicinity of said upper set of injection ports.  
     
     
       2. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower sets of injection ports are spaced apart from each other a distance no farther than about two times the average width of said lance in the vicinity of said upper set of injection ports. 
     
     
       3. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said lower set of injection ports of said lance includes at least three spaced-apart substantially radial ports. 
     
     
       4. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said lower set of injection ports of said lance includes at least four spaced-apart substantially radial ports. 
     
     
       5. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein each of said radial ports is angled upwardly at approximately 15 degrees. 
     
     
       6. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein each of said radial ports of said lower set of ports of said lance are recessed into a first circumferential groove. 
     
     
       7. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said lower set of injection ports of said lance further includes an axial port. 
     
     
       8. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said lance includes a circumferential groove disposed within said lower set of injection ports of said lance. 
     
     
       9. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 1 , further including a first selector valve for selectively fluidically connecting said first conduit of said lance to a selected one of at least two fluid sources. 
     
     
       10. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 1 , further including a second selector valve for selectively fluidically connecting said second conduit of said lance to a selected one of at least two fluid sources. 
     
     
       11. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 1 , further including a first selector valve for selectively fluidically connecting said first conduit of said lance to a selected one of at least two fluid sources and a second selector valve for selectively fluidically connecting said second conduit of said lance to a selected one of at least two fluid sources. 
     
     
       12. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said lance includes a shaft portion and a fluid injection portion, said fluid injection portion including said upper and lower set of injection ports, said first conduit being co-axial inside said second conduit in at least said shaft portion of said lance. 
     
     
       13. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said shaft portion and said fluid injection portion of said lance are removably joinable together, said first conduit being fluidically connectable to said lower set of injection ports and fluidically sealable from said upper set of injection ports by means of a plurality of co-axial O-ring seals. 
     
     
       14. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said highly pressurized fluid is pressurized in the range of 3000 to 6000 psi. 
     
     
       15. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said highly pressurized fluid is pressurized in the range of 3200 to 6000 psi. 
     
     
       16. A deep remediation system as defined in  claim 15  wherein said highly pressurized fluid is pressurized in the range of 4000 to 6000 psi. 
     
     
       17. A deep remediation injection system of  claim 13  further comprising 
       an adapter tube between said shaft portion and said fluid injection portion, said adapter tube having an upper end including a plurality of co-axial O-rings and being adapted for co-axial insertion into said first conduit in said shaft, and a lower end including a plurality of co-axial O-rings and being adapted for co-axial insertion into a conduit in said fluid injection portion, thereby permitting flow of fluid from said first conduit to said lower set of injection ports and sealably separating said fluid from fluid in said second conduit leading to said upper set of injection ports.  
     
     
       18. A method of in-situ deep remediation of contaminated soil and ground water using an injection lance capable of progressive penetration both vertically and horizontally in contaminated soil having an upper set of injection ports and a lower set of injection ports, comprising the steps of: 
       connecting a source of highly-pressurized gas to one of said upper and lower sets of injection ports,  
       connecting a source of first highly-pressurized liquid selected from the group consisting of an oxygenating liquid taken from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, liquid containing dissolved ozone, liquid containing dissolved oxygen, liquid-containing suspended biologicals or liquid containing catalyst, or liquid containing a surfactant, to the other of said upper and lower sets of injection ports,  
       penetrating said lance into said soil to inject said gas and liquid into it through said upper and lower sets of injection ports,  
       disconnecting said source of gas and connecting in its place a source of a second highly-pressurized liquid selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, liquid containing dissolved ozone, liquid containing dissolved oxygen, liquid containing suspended biologicals, liquid containing a catalyst, liquid containing a surfactant or other chemical, said second highly-pressurized liquid being different from said first highly-pressurized liquid.